Automatic release mechanism.



.L. (L H. L. BRADLEY.

AUTOMATIC RELEASE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.14.1913.

1,220,721. Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

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AUTOMATIC RELEASE MECHANISIVI.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I4. 1913.

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Miu. 2T, 1917.

L. L H. L. BRADLEY.

AUTOMATIC RELEASE MECHANLSM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I4. 19I3 v Patented Miu. 27, 1917.

FSHEETS-SHEEI' 4.

L. a H. L. BRADLEY.

AUTOMATIC RELEASE MECH/mism.

PPLLCATlON FILED AUG. 14| 1913- 1,220,721 Patented Mau. Q4, 1914.

SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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L. L H. L. BRADLEY.

AUTOMATIC RELEASE MECHANISIVI.

APPLICAHON FILED AUG.14, |9134 1,220,721 Patented Mm. 2T, 1917.

' SHEETS-SHEET 6l nuewtozj (L H. L. BRADLEY.

ATlC RELEASE MECHANISM.

ION FILED AUG.I4,

Iutvnted Mar. 24, 1917.

SHEETS-SHEET lI AUTONI APPLlc LYNDE BRADLEY AND HARRY L.l BRADLEY, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

AUTOMATIC RELEASE MECHANISM..

l Specification of Letters Patent. Patented D/Iar, 27, 1917,

Application filed August 14, 1913. Serial No.`784,661.

To all whom t may concern:

Be 1t known that we, LYNDE BRADLEY and HARRY L. BRADLEY, citizens of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Release Mechanisms, of which the following is a specilication.

Our invention relates to improvements in automatic release mechanisms.

The object of our invention is to provide a release mechanism which is peculiarly adapted for' use in controlling multi-phase circuits in such a manner that an interruption of current in any one phase or line of conduction will automatically cause a complete interruption in all circuits, preventing the continued operation 'of a motor under single phase over-load conditions .and restoring all controlling elements to a normal nocurrent coroition, whereby after restoration same,

plane l'. including latter l, iease sin con- Fig. 10 is a sectional View drawn on line g/-y/ of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a circuit diagram.

-Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout all the views.

'In Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, release mechanism is illustrated -in connection with a motor starter embodying compressible resistance columns of the general type shown in former Patents Number 1051480, dated January 28, 1913; Number 821697, dated May 29, 1906; and Number 723817, dated March 31, 1903. 'In the construction herein illustrated, the resistancecolumns 1 are provided with arms 2 at their lower ends, and rods 3, connected with said arms, are adapted to support the columns from a set of evener bars 4, 5 and 6, said evener bars being lifted to apply pressure to the columns by lifting them against a stop 8. The evener bars are preferably arranged in pairs, as shown, and the outer bars 6 are connected at their respective ends by cross pins or bolts 10, Motion is transmitted to the cvener ars from manually actuated lever 12, (Fig. 2), through a rock shaft 11i, slotted plates 15., favst on said shaft, and links 10 engaged in the slots 17 in the cani plates and connected with the evener cross bolts The actuating lever 12 is loose on shaft but transmits motion to the shaft through shaft cross 20, which the short arm of the lever when said lever is swung upwardly from normal position. By employing'this pin, the lever may be permitted 'to drop to normal position after' oscillating 11i to column-compressing position, retractive movement of the lever ithout moving the shaft 14- i li* it has been adactuated by the lever as stop 8 which is cory ected switch r @voted the ila' d li an 27 of the knife cts each column into a umns 1 drop"away from contact 8.

Continued pressure upon the columns, however, actuates the respectivestops 8, each of which communicates its motionto the corresponding lever 25, causing the switch arm of the lever to swing outwardly from contacts 28 into engagement with contacts 29the contacts 29 being sufficiently 'separated at their inner ends so that they will not be engagedby said lever until the lever moves outwardly to the position in which it is clearly shown in Fig. 3. A circuit will then be established from fuse 37, conducting member 38, switch arm 27, contacts 29, and motor connections 40 .and 34, thus cutting out the resistance columns 1. The switch lever 25 is preferably double and carries a cross pin or spacer 42. A rod 43 ext-ends through this member 42 and through a plate 45 mounted upon the slate backing 4G. A spring 47 is coiled upon the rod 43 in the rear of plate 45, and another spring 48 is coiled upon this rod in front of the member 42. These springs tend to force the member 42 downwardly and restore the lever 25 and its switch arm 27 to normal no-current position as soon as the pressure of column 1 upon stop 8 is relieved.

lt has already been explained that the position of the lever 25, whiehis termed the normal 11o-current position, is also the starting position of the lever and that during the starting period a circuit is established through the contacts 28, the lever, and the resistance column to the motor. This circuit, however, is broken as soon as the 'col- This starting circuit is only established for a few seconds, constituting the'motor start ing interval and until the lever arm 27 is moved from contacts 28 to contacts 29, whereby the current is shunted past the column 1. For reasons hereinafter explained, the return of lever 25 to said normal position of contact with terminals 28 is followed by an instant separation of column 1 from contact 8, thus breaking the circuit.

rll`he construction illustrated shows three columns 1, each of which is connected up in a three-phase circuit, affording three lines of conduction. Each of these lines of conduction-includes an electromagnet 50, 51 and 52 respectively, and these three electromagnets are preferably arranged in a vertical set or row. Armatures 54, 55 and 56 are pivotally hung upon the shaft 14 and are adapted respectively to swing into and out of contact with the poles of the magnets 50, 51 and 52. When these armatures are swung into contact with the magnetic poles, they .f will be held in the raised position illustrated indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and in so manger doing, will release a trip latch which' holds the columns in raised position in pressure contact with stop 8. By thus actuating the trip latch 60, the columns `1 are permitted to drop, whereupon the reaction of springs 47 and 48 actuates lever 25 to normal no-current position, the circuit through the columns being simultaneously broken as the columns drop away from stop 8.

The trip latch 6 0 is pivoted at 61 to the fralne. A. spring 62 tends to hold it with latch hook (S3-in position'of use, as best shown in Fig. 6. In this position it is adapted to engage a roller 65 carried by an arm 66, (Fig. 5), of the yoke-shaped cam plate 15. `When the lever 12 is swung upwardly to oscillate shaft 14 and lift the columns 1, as above explained, the arm 66 of the cam plate carries roller 65 into position for engagement and retention by the latch hook 63. vThe latch hook will be depressed by the pressure of the roller, but as soon as the roller has passed the hook, it swings upwardly to roller retaining position by reaction of spring 62. `When in this position, the columns will have been lifted sufficiently to not only compress them against stop 8 and progressively reduce their resistance, but also to actuate stop 8 against the tension of springs 47 and 48, and move lever 25 to short circuiting position.

Should the current be interrupted in any one phase, one of the magnets 50, 51 or 52 will, of course,be denergized and the corresponding armature 54, 55 or 5G will be permitted to drop. The lower extremity 70, 71 or 72 of the dropping armature will, after the armature has acquired momentum, bebrought into contact with a roller 73 carried by a downwardly projecting arm of the latch member 60. The pressure of the dropping armature drives'this arm hackwardly and depresses the latch hook 63, releasing roller (35, whereupon the weight of the parts and the reactionary pressure of the columns 1 oscillates shaft 14 through the downward pull exerted on links 16, all the parts being thus restored to normal no-current position.

To restore the circuits to normal working position, it is therefore necessary to again lift the lever 12. A sleeve 75, carried by the lever 12, is providedfwith an arm 76 which projects in a position to engage shoulders 77 on the respective armatures 54, and 5G. `When the lever 12 is lifted, its motion is transmitted through sleeve 75 and arm 76 to swing these armatures upwardly into contact with the poles of the magnets 50, 51 and respectively. ln transmitting motion from the sleeve 75 to lift the armatures, arm 7G loosely engages the projections 70, 71 and 72, and pushes them downwardly to the position in which they are shown in Fig. 5, after which the lever 12 may be permitted to drop, .thereby oscillating sleeve 75 in the opposite direction until projection 76 reaches the position in which it is shown in said Fig. This movement will take place coincidently with the compression of the columns 1 and the subsequent movement of switch lever 25. Therefore', if the circuit in each phase has been restored, the

armatures will be held by the magnets in raised position. rengaged roller 65. Lever 12 may be permitted to Vdrop with working conditions restored, and such conditions will be maintained until the current is interrupted in one or more of the circuits. I

The object of the slots 17 in the cam plates 15 is to secure a graduated movement and increase of pressure upon the columns l in conformity with the requirements. Vhen the columns are depressed, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the links 16 will engage in the outer ends of the slots 17, and the initial movement of the columns will therefore be rapid. But as cam plate 15 moves upwardly, the links will slide toward the ends of the slots nearest shaft 11 with progressive retardation of the movement, although lever 12 may be moving continu ously at the same speed.

Referring to Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, which show our invention as applied to a circuit closer independently of variable resistance mechanism, it will be observed that we employ an oscillatory shaft 14, which is actuated by a lever 12a loosely hung thereon, but communicating motion to the shaft through a cross pin 20a. An insulating drum 80 is mounted upon the shaft 11a and Provided with segmental conducting members 8 1, 82 and 83, which are in independent electrical communication with conductors 81, 85 and 86 respectively of ay three-phase circuit, said circuit being closed when the members 81, 82 and 88 are in contact respectively with terminals 87, 88 and 89. The shaft 14 is supported from the switch board 90 by bearing brackets 91, and a coiled spring 92 tends to hold the shaft in a position with the gaps 91 between the ends of the segmental members 81, 82 and 83'in registry with the terminals 87,188 and 89.

lVhen the lever 12a is swung to, circuit closing position, however, shaft 14 will be oscillated against the tension of spring 92, until the drum 8O is rotated to the position in which it is shown in the drawings, whereupon the circuits will be established between the segmental members 81, 82 and 83, and terminals 87, 88 and 89 respectively. The shaft 11a will be locked in this position by engagement of roller a with latch 68, the roller 65a being supported from the shaft by a yoke arm 66a corresponding in function with the arm '66 above described. The

latch is carried by a member 60, which Latch hook 63 will have` is pivoted at 61*l to brackets connected with the switch board 90. The member 6()a is provided with an arm 73a, which projects forwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 9, and engages under a roller 94 journaled in a frame 95, which is loosely hung upon the shaft 14a and is adapted to be actuated from lever 12 through sleeve 75a and arm 76a, said arm being in a position to engage a bracket 96 secured to one side of frame 95. Electro-magnets 50a, 51a and 52a are each connected in series with one line of the threephase circuit, and these control armatures 51a, 55a and 56, similar in structure and function to the corresponding armatures shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive. These armatures, however, are pivoted to the pivot bolt 61, and when released, they swing downwardly and strike upon cross rod 100, depressing member 601 to latch releasing position. Vhen the parts are in normal working condition, the roller 911 rests upon the latch arm 73a, said latch arm being normally held up by a spring 99 coiled upon the pivot bolt 61a and engaging cross rod 100 mounted in the latch member 60a.

lVhen any one of the armatures drops upon the cross rod 100, the latch will be pushed downwardly against the tension of this spring, thus releasing roller 65 and permitting shaft 14a to oscillate by reaction of spring 92 to circuit breaking position. This will take place whenever the current is interrupted in any one line of the circuit, since one of the armatures will then be releasedd', its sustaining magnet being denerglze To avoid an accidental release of the latch, the frame 95 is normally supported in a raised position by a spring 102.

Then it is desired to manually interrupt the circuit, the -lever 12DL may be moved backwardly toward the switch board or slate backing 90. lts motion will then be ,communicated through sleeve projection 76a and frame arm 103 to the frame 95 to swing the upper end of said frame downwardly, thus causing roller 94 to depress arm 73n until the latch 63 moves to releasing position. The same result may be secured in the form of'construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, by swinging lever 12 backwardly until sleeve projection 76 bears upon the side arms of the armatures 54, and 56, and pushes the armatures away from their respective supporting magnets, whereupon said armature will drop'and break the circuit as above explained.

lVe claim- 1. The combination with the conductors of a polyphase circuit, a set of switches. one for each phase, automatic means for actuating the switches toV circuit breaking position, means for manually actuating the switches to circuit closing position, latch mechanism adapted to hold all the switches in circuit closing position, a set of latch releasing devices, and a Set of electro-magnetic devices, one included in each phase and each adapted to hold one of the latch releasing devices from operation until the current in such phase falls below normal.

2.' The combination with a set of polyphase conductors of an electrical circuit, of a. movable support, automatic circuit breakers arranged to be mechanically actuated through said support to simultaneously close the circuit through each of said conductors, a latch adapted t-o hold the support and circuit breakers in circuit closing position, a set of automatically acting latch releasing mechanisms, and a set of electromagnetic devices, one for each phase, and each adapted, while fully energized, to prevent a latch releasing movement of one of the latch releasing mechanisms.

8. The combination with the conductors of -a polyphase circuit, switches, one for each phase, circuit breaking armatures, one for each conductor, each operable independently of the others and each directly and mechanically controlling tlie switches for the entire circuit, and a plurality of underload trip magnets, one for each conductor, and each adapted to hold the corresponding circuit breaking armature in operative position until a current interruption occurs in suchconductor.

4. rlhe combination with the conductors of a. polyphase circuit, circuit closing mechanism therefor,an electro-magnetic device in each circuit adapted to be energized independentlv of the others, an oscillatory actuating shaft, a set of armatures pivotally hung upon the shaft and each adapted to swing to a. raised position within the magnetic lield of one of said devices, means for transmitting motion of the shaft to raise said armatures, means for transmitting motion from the shaft to close said circuit, and trip mechanism means connected therewith for controlling said circuit and adapted to be set by said shaft, each of said armatures having a projection adapted to engage and release the trip mechanism after the initial downward movement of the armatures.

5f'l`lie combination with the conductors ot a polyphase circuit, of electro-magnets, one for each phase conductor, a trip mechanism means connected therewith for controlling said circuit, a trip setting manually actuated member, and a set oi pivotally supported .armatures adapted to be swung by the trip setting member each to a raised position within the iield ot one ot the magnets, each ot said armatures having a short arm, and said trip mechanism having a trip releasing arm adapted to be engaged by any naam/ai one of said short arms to release the trip after a magnet has been denergized and its armature permitted to acquire momentum in its d-ownwardly swinging movement.

6. rlllie combination with the conductors of a polyphase circuit, automatically retracting switches, one for each circuit, and each normally in circuit breaking position, means for manually actuating said switches from normal position to circuit closing position, latch mechanism adapted to hold all the switches in circuit closing position, a set of underload trip magnets, one in circuit with each conductor, and a set of automatically acting latch releasing devices, each controlled as to operation by one of the trip magnet-s, said latch mechanism, when released, being adapted to simultaneously release all of said switches and allow them to return to normal position.

7. The combination with the conductors of n a polyphase circuit automatically retracting switches, one for each circuit, and each normally in circuit breaking position, breaking the circuit through one of the conductors, means for manually actuating said switches from normal position to circuit closing position, latch mechanism adapted to hold all the switches in circuit closing position, a set of underload trip magnets, one in circuit with each conductor, and a set of automaticallyy acting latch releasing devices, each controlled as to operation by one of the trip magnets, said latch mechanism, when released, being adapted to simultaneously release all of said switches and allow them to return to normal position, said latchY releasing devices each comprising a weighted arm, and a support to which it is pivotally connected in position to receive a large portion of the load when said arm is raised into contact with' the trip magnet to which it pertains. f

8. rlhe combination with a set of polyphase conductors ot an electrical circuit, of a movable support, a set of circuit closing devices operated therefrom to simultaneously close the circuits through said conductors, latch mechanism adapted to hold the support in circuit closing position, automatically acting latcli releasing devices, one for each conductor, and means included in each phase and dependent on the maintenance of current therein for preventing a latch releasing movement ot said latch releasing devices.

ln testimony whereof we attira' our signatures in `the presence of two witnesses.

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